Promoting and Protecting the City's Health

Physical Activity for Older Adults

Regular physical activity is one of the best ways older adults can protect and improve their health. Finding the time to get active every day can keep you mobile and independent and reduce the risk of many health problems.

To improve your health and lower your risk of falls, it is important to regularly do:

Moderate and intense aerobic exercises

Muscle-strengthening exercises

Balance-training exercises

Recommended Amount of Activity

Each week, older adults should try to do at least:

2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise

1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise

2 days of muscle-strengthening exercise

3 days of balance-training exercises

For aerobic activities, exercise for 10 minutes at a time, spread across at least days each week. Two minutes of moderate-intensity activity counts the same as 1 minute of vigorous-intensity activity.